SAKUBAI Play Review

SAKUBAI is the story of a common and yet an uncommon woman. It tells the tale of all those women who play an indispensable part in our lives and whom we ubiquitously address as 'bai'. Sakubai is one of them. These women sweep our floors, wash our dishes and our clothes, cook, take care of our children and do a sundry list of tasks. Veteran actress Sarita Joshi performs Sakubai in this one-woman show directed by Nadira Zaheer Babbar. Sarita Joshi punches in an act expected of the talented actress, but in terms of its content and treatment, the play is disappointing. It at best succeeds in creating the perfect stereotype.

The play opens with Sakkubai cleaning the house. The set depicts a typical middle class household with light blue walls and a sofa set in the middle. The area to the right is the kitchen where Sakkubai spends most of her time. While narrating the story of her life in a put-on Marathi accent, she is seen clearing the mess which has been created by the Kapoor family whom she works for. Quite familiarly, Sakubai's life has been full of ordeals and struggle. She never got an opportunity to educate herself and she had to start working in order to sustain a living. There are numerous incidents which she shares with the audience and most of them reflect the double standards of the urban and the privileged society. In spite of her troubles, Sakubai sings and dances, and wants to celebrate her life.

This is a feel good play about life and circumstances but fails to explore its subject and remains shallow for the most part. Technically too it is handicapped as the props and set are nothing great. The music just happens to be there and unnecessary sound effects are jarring. Sarita Joshi's act might just be the saving grace of the play.

*Astha Arora is an actor. She has a graduate degree in Mass Media and is now pursuing her Masters in Journalism.